Changes are coming to how Motor Vehicle Inspection Stations (MVIS) in Ontario will perform annual and semi-annual inspections on commercial vehicles, and facilities that conduct such work need to act quickly to get prepared.

The Ministry of Transportation’s DriveOn program launched May 9 and will have a hard launch Aug. 1. There is a multi-step process for MVIS to go through, including applying to receive a free tablet that will be required to perform inspections, including emissions tests.

To get started and to order the tablet, MVIS must log into the DriveOn portal at www.driveonportal.com. Orders will be fulfilled on a first-come/first-served basis, the MTO said in a memo to service providers.

The MTO is also scheduling virtual information sessions that will include questions and answers. Licensed MVIS facilities are eligible for one free tablet, which will come loaded with a Training Mode module for technicians.

The full program is set to go live July 15 and will be mandatory as of Aug. 1.

The Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) supports the new program, saying  it is “an important development for improving road safety and air quality” and “will bring significant changes to the inspection process for fleets and technicians.”

But it also acknowledged “As the Aug. 1 date approaches, there have been questions from industry about the readiness of the program and their ability to meet the new requirements.”

MVIS facilities should have, by now, received a letter from the MTO detailing how to obtain a tablet and comply with the new requirements. The OTA says it has put together an ad-hoc committee open to association members that will meet virtually every Tuesday beginning July 9 to monitor progress on the issue.

Members can register to participate here. You can view the MTO letter on the upcoming changes here.